Kollam: A four-member gang stormed the house of an accused in an attempt to murder case in the early morning hours of Thursday and hacked him to death in his bedroom at Karunagappally in Kollam. The deceased, Santosh Kumar, 45, who was out on bail, was a resident of Padanayarkulangara, Kottisseril. Santosh Kumar, who was severely wounded in the attack, was left for dead by the gang in his room, and they also assaulted another man named Aneer at Vavvakkavu 30 minutes later. The police said that Santosh and Aneer had criminal antecedents. Santosh is an accused in an attempt to murder case registered in 2024.

The gang reached the house of Santosh around 2.30 am. Armed with a hoe, a machete and an iron rod, they broke into the house and smashed the door of Santosh's bedroom using a hoe. According to the FIR registered by Karunagappally police, one of the gang members shouted threats at Santosh and said "You won't be allowed to live anymore". 

An assailant tried to stab him in his chest, and as Santosh evaded the attack, he got stabbed in the shoulder. The gang inflicted deep stab wounds below the left shoulder of Santosh. His left knee was shattered in repeated blows using an iron rod. He also sustained gashes to his leg in the attack. A crude explosive was hurled into his room to create panic, and the gang fled the scene. Though badly wounded, Santosh rang up one of his friends and he was brought to Karunagappally taluk hospital where he succumbed to stab wounds.

The police have identified the four members behind the attack. According to police, they harboured a grudge for Santosh and that it was a premeditated murder. The cops are mainly looking at the rivalry angle and suspect that the murder could be an act of vengeance for the attempted murder case registered against Santosh.